Conforming Loan Limit 2026: What It Is, Your County Limit and When 2027 Is Set
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The 2026 conforming loan limit is $832,750 for a one-unit home in most U.S. counties, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announcement of Nov. 25, 2025 (checked Nov. 4, 2026). In high-cost areas the limit can go up to $1,249,125. The 2027 limit is not out yet. FHFA's FAQ says it updates the limits at the end of each November, and they take effect Jan. 1.
What is the conforming loan limit?
The conforming loan limit is the biggest loan Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac can buy from a lender. FHFA's Conforming Loan Limit FAQs (updated November 2025, checked Nov. 4, 2026) say it plainly: it is ""the highest loan amount for mortgages that Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac can acquire."" A loan above the limit is called a jumbo loan.
Here is the part many buyers miss. The limit is about your loan amount, not the price of the home. The same FHFA FAQ says the limit restricts the size of the loans the two companies can buy ""but not the price of homes."" So a home can cost more than $832,750 and still get a conforming loan, as long as the loan itself stays under the limit.
What is the conforming loan limit for 2026?
FHFA set these 2026 limits for one-unit homes in its Nov. 25, 2025 news release (checked Nov. 4, 2026):
Area | 2026 limit for a one-unit home |
|---|---|
Most U.S. counties (baseline) | $832,750 |
High-cost area ceiling | $1,249,125 |
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands (baseline) | $1,249,125 |
Table source: FHFA, Nov. 25, 2025 release, checked Nov. 4, 2026.
The baseline went up $26,250 from 2025, the same release says. Homes with two to four units have higher limits. FHFA's 2026 county list (checked Nov. 4, 2026) shows $1,066,250 for a two-unit home at the baseline.
How do I find the limit for my county?
Limits are set county by county. FHFA's FAQ says over 95% of counties get the baseline. When we checked FHFA's 2026 county file on Nov. 4, 2026, 160 of 3,235 counties and county equivalents had a one-unit limit above $832,750, and 75 were at the $1,249,125 ceiling.
To look up your county, open the FHFA conforming loan limit page and download the 2026 list. Find your county and read the one-unit column.
A high-cost limit comes from local home values. FHFA's FAQ says the limit is set at 115% of the highest county median home value in the local metro area, but never above the ceiling.
When will the 2027 conforming loan limit be announced?
Nobody can know the 2027 number until FHFA announces it. Here is what we know from FHFA itself:
Timing. FHFA's FAQ says it updates the limits ""at the end of each November,"" and they take effect a month later, on Jan. 1.
The formula. The FAQ says the baseline changes by the yearly percent change in FHFA's House Price Index (the expanded-data version), measured third quarter to third quarter. For 2026, that change was 3.26%, per the Nov. 25, 2025 release.
The date to watch. FHFA's House Price Index release calendar (checked Nov. 4, 2026) lists Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2026 for the third-quarter 2026 report. Last year, the new limits came out the same day as that report.
It cannot go down. The FAQ says the baseline limit does not decrease. If prices fall, the limit stays flat.
You may see guesses about the 2027 number online. Treat them as guesses. The only official number is the one FHFA publishes.
Does the conforming loan limit apply to FHA and VA loans?
Not in the same way. Each loan type has its own rules:
FHA loans. FHA sets its own limits, based on the conforming limit. HUD's 2026 loan limit announcement (checked Nov. 4, 2026) lists a one-unit floor of $541,287 and a high-cost ceiling of $1,249,125. These apply to FHA case numbers assigned on or after Jan. 1, 2026.
VA loans. FHFA's FAQ says VA-backed loans have not been tied to the FHFA limit since Jan. 1, 2020, under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.
Conventional loans. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans must stay at or under the county's conforming limit. Above it, you are looking at a jumbo loan.
How much house can I buy with a conforming loan?
Because the limit is on the loan, your down payment decides the highest price you can pay and still stay conforming. Here is a simple EXAMPLE at the 2026 baseline of $832,750. It ignores closing costs, taxes and insurance.
Down payment | Highest price that keeps the loan at $832,750 (example) |
|---|---|
5% | About $876,578 |
10% | About $925,277 |
20% | About $1,040,937 |
Example math only: price = $832,750 ÷ (1 − down payment %). Not a quote or an offer.
At Freddie Mac's 30-year average of 7.24% for the week of Oct. 29, 2026 (Freddie Mac PMMS, checked Nov. 4, 2026), principal and interest on an $832,750 loan would be about $5,675 a month. That is example math only. Your rate, taxes and insurance will be different.
What this means for new-construction buyers
New homes can take months to build, so the calendar matters more for you than for most buyers. Here is what to keep in mind:
Your closing year may matter. FHFA's county files are labeled by the calendar year in which Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac acquire the loan. If you sign now and close in early 2027, ask your lender which year's limit your loan will be judged by.
FHA uses the case number date. HUD says its 2026 limits apply to case numbers assigned on or after Jan. 1, 2026. Ask your lender when your FHA case number will be assigned.
Upgrades can push your loan over. If you add options at the design stage and borrow more to pay for them, your loan amount can climb. Check it against your county limit before you sign the change order.
Builder pricing and incentives change. Call 561-704-0091 for today's numbers on any community you are looking at.
A loan just over the limit is a different product with its own rules. A lender can tell you whether a bigger down payment would keep you conforming.
Common Questions
What is the conforming loan limit for 2026?
It is \$832,750 for a one-unit home in most U.S. counties. High-cost areas can go up to \$1,249,125. FHFA announced both numbers on Nov. 25, 2025.
When will the 2027 conforming loan limits come out?
FHFA says it updates the limits at the end of each November and they take effect Jan. 1. Its calendar lists the third-quarter 2026 House Price Index report for Nov. 24, 2026. Last year, the new limits came out the same day as that report.
Can the conforming loan limit go down?
No. FHFA's FAQ says the baseline limit does not decrease. If home prices fall, the limit stays the same until prices recover.
Is the conforming loan limit the most a house can cost?
No. The limit is on the loan amount, not the home price. A bigger down payment can keep a loan under the limit on a higher-priced home.
Do VA loans have a loan limit in 2026?
FHFA's FAQ says VA-backed loans have not been limited to the FHFA conforming limit since Jan. 1, 2020. Ask VA or your lender how your entitlement works.
What are the FHA loan limits for 2026?
HUD lists a one-unit floor of \$541,287 and a high-cost ceiling of \$1,249,125. They apply to FHA case numbers assigned on or after Jan. 1, 2026.
Ready to take the next step?
Call 561-704-0091 to talk with a National House Search specialist, or Schedule a visit.
Related reading: FHA vs conventional loan · How much down payment do you need? · VA loans on new construction
This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures checked November 4, 2026.